Venetian blind head bar organization and fittings



1954 H. K. LORENTZEN 7 70,038

VENETIAN BLIND HEAD BAR ORGANIZATION AND FITTINGS Filed Oct. 17, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEYS 1954 H. K. LORENTZEN 2,670,038

VENETIAN BLIND HEAD BAR ORGANIZATION AND FITTINGS Filed Oct. 17, 1951 V I 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR H446 A. lMfWTZE/V ATI'ORNEYS flaw? M17444,

Feb. 23, 1954 H. K. LORENTZEN 2,670,

I VENETIAN BLIND HEAD BAR ORGANIZATION AND FITTINGS Filed Oct. 17 1951 5 Sheets-Sheei s FIG. I?

INVENTOR #4110 A. ZMtAVZf/V Fl BY ATTORNEYS cord lock according to the present invention, having a modified bearing for passage of the individual lift cord.

Fig. 15 is a vertical section through the cord lock of Fig. 14, taken on the line |-|5 thereof, the lift cords being indicated in dot-dash lines.

Fig. 16 is a top plan view of the lift-cord-bearing portion of the cord lock of Figs. 14 and 15 and the adjacent portion of the head bar.

Fig. 17 is a vertical section of the lift cord bearing of the cord lock and adjacent portion of the head bar, taken on the line of Fig. 16.

Referring to Fig. 1, the Venetian blind there shown is of the enclosed head bar type, in which the operating mechanism of the blind is mounted on the inside bottom wall 20 of a channel-shaped sheet metal head bar 2|. The slats 22 of the blind are supported by the customary ladder tapes 24, 24, the upper ends of which pass through slots 25 formed in the bottom wall 20 of the head bar.

The upper ends of the ladder tapes 24, 24 are secured to tape rockers 26, 26, which are mounted on a tilt rod 21 extending longitudinally of the head bar 2!. The tilt rod 21 is mounted for rotation in a tilter 29 mounted adjacent one end of the head bar 2| and a cord lock 30 mounted adjacent the other end of the head bar, the tilter and cord lock supporting the tilt rod from the bottom wall of the head bar.

The slats 22 are tilted to closed position by oscillation of the tilt rod 21 in either direction by operation of the tilter 29, a tilt cord 3| being provided for this purpose.

Lift cords 32, 32 are reeved in the blind in the customary manner, the cords actually being formed of a single length of cord, the two ends of which are secured to the bottom bar (not shown) of the blind. The cords pass upwardly through aligned slots 34 of the slats and through the bottom wall 20 of the head bar, and then lead through the cord lock 30, a loop or bight of the cord 35 hanging from the cord lock at the right-hand end of the head bar. Both the tilter 29 and the cord lock 30 .are provided with bearings to provide a smooth passage for the individual lift cords through the bottom wall 20 of the head bar, thus eliminating a separate cord guide for leading the lift cords down through the slats of the blind.

Referring now to Figs. 26, the tilter 29 comprises a unitary stamped sheet metal tilter body 36, the body having an extended base 31 and an upturned vertical portion or flange 39 for receiving a worm 46 and a meshing gear 49.

The vertical portion 39 of the tilter 29 is slotted to provide two pairs of arcuate straps 42 forming journals for a worm shaft 44 rotatably mounted in this portion of the tilter. Preferably, the worm shaft 44 is mounted at an angle to the horizontal, being forwardly upwardly inclined. A cord pulley 45 fixed to the forward end of the worm shaft 44 receives the tilt cord 3| thereabout for operating the tilter, and the worm gear 46 is fixed to the shaft 44 between the pairs of arcuate straps 42, the worm gear being received within an opening 41 formed in the vertical portion 39 of the tilter body.

The upper end of the vertical portion 39 of the tilter body is provided with a circular bearing or journal 50 to rotatably receive the tilt rod 27. Preferably, a portion of the metal displaced in forming the journal 50 is formed into a laterally extending sleeve on the outside surface of the portion 39 to provide an extended bearing area.

plication of Harry Nelson S. N. 109,637.

In some respects, the tilter 29 is similar to the tilter shown in Nelson U. S. patent application S. N. 109,637, now U. S. Patent 2,630,861 issued Mar. 10, 1953.

The gear 49 is mounted against the inside face of portion 39 of the tilter body and has a D- shaped hole 5| for non-rotatably receiving the tilt rod 21, the hole 5| registering with the journal 50. The gear 49 is preferably formed of a sheet metal stamping and is provided with teeth meshing with the worm 46. Preferably, the teeth of they gear 49 extend for only about one-half the circumference of the gear to provide an escapement tilter, as generally shown in Nelson Patent 2,174,994.

The gear 49 is provided with a laterally ex tending bearing surface 52 which is rotatably received within a circular opening 53 in a gear retainer 54 overlying the gear and retaining it against the inside face of the portion 39 of the tilter. The gear retainer 54 may be provided with a pair of tabs 55, 55 passing through slots- 56, 56 in the portion 39 of the tilter and clenched against the opposite side of the tilter portion to hold the gear retainer in position. The construction and assembly of the vertical portion of the tilter together with the worm 46, gear 49,

and gear retainer 54, as thus far described, is in most respects generally similar to corresponding parts of the tilter shown in the copending ap stop 51 extending outwardly from the portion 39 of the tilter body and then across a prolongation of the axis of the journal 50, so as to lie across the end of a tilt rod passed through the.

journal.

I The base 31 of the tilter body is generally flat, and in the assembly indicated in Fig. 1 extends towards the center of the blind at least as far,

as the adjacent ladder tape 24. The inner end portion of the base 31 is, in the form of tilter shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 6, provided with a cir-, cular raised bead 59 extending about a round hole 60 to provide a smooth bearing surface for passage of a lift cord 32 downwardly through the bottom wall 20 of the head bar, the head bar being provided with a somewhat larger hole (not shown) so as to avoid contacting the lift cord. The margin of the hole 60 is turned radially outward as best indicated in Fig. 11, showing the cord lock 39 which also has a similar lift cord" bearing, to provide a smooth cord bearing.

The base 31 of the tilter is also provided with a pair of slots 6|, 6| which, in the assembly indicated in Fig. 1, receives tabs struck up from the bottom wall 20 of the head bar and clenched against the upper surface of the base 31 to retain the tilter in position. I

The edge of the base 37 0f the tilter below the wardly flaring, barrellike, cord-receiving formations 64, 64. I do not extend completely about the cord but have opposed side openings 65, to permit lateral insertion of the tilt cord, a short, raised: bead 66 on the rear, inner surface of each barrel;

The barrellike formations 64, 64

goo ness adjacent the. opening aiding in; retaining the-tilt cord; within. thecord guideand preventing fraying' of the. cord on the. lower edge thereof.

Before completingv the description ofthe base- 31: of the tilter, the. nature of the tilt rod and tape rocker with which it coacts will be considered. The tilt rod 21', as shown in Figs. 1- and 6', maybe of. any ncncircular cross section.

The tilt rodv 21 has mounted thereon a pair'oftape rockers 26, 2-6., one tape rocker supporting eachof the ladder tapes. These tape rockers are best shown in Figs. 6 and '7 and each comprisesa sheet metal stamping having a generallyflat top portionlll which may be provided with pairs of opposed, short and long fingers Tl, 1-1 and 12 12, respectively, or other ladder tape engaging means. Fingers generally similar to fingers 1|, 'H and 12, 12 are shown in Nelson copending application S. N. 771,981, new U. S. Patent 2,589,846 issued Mar. 18, 2952.

A pair of arcuate, depending side flanges '14, M extends downwardly from the lateral edges ofthe top portion of the tape rocker, these side flanges being generally concentric with the axis of the tilt rod- 21. Each tape rocker 26 is provided with a pair of generally circular end flanges I5, 15" depending from the ends of the top portion-lllof the tape rocker and provided with D- shaped holes l6, 16 for nonrotata'bl-y receiving the tilt rod Zl, the outer margin of the flanges being substantially concentric with the axis of the tilt rod. If desired, stiffening flanges 1?, as shown, may be provided to reinforce the tape rocker against bending.

The base 3'! of the tilter isprovided with an upwardly'extending tape rocker guide portion 19"provided with a transversely extending, upwardly opening slot 813 to receive an end flange 15 of the tape rocker. The guide portion 19 and slot 80 are so located as to maintain the tape rockercentered over the slots 25 provided in the bottom wall of the head bar for passage of the ladder tapes by restraining endwise movement of the tape rocker. Preferably, the upper end of the guide portion 79' is laterally extended on both sides of the slot 80 to aid inpreventing misassembly of the tape rocker. If the tape rocker were displaced so far as not to be engaged by the extensions of the guide portion 19, it would be readily apparent to the headbar assembler and the misassembly of the partswould be corrected immediately.

The cord lock of the present invention, as shown in Figs- 10-43, comprises a stamped sheet metal cord.v lock body 81 .having an extended base 84 andupwardly directed, generally parallel fiange's' 'lES, 85 forming the: cord lock housing; The inner end. portion of the base 84 has a lift cord bearing similar to the lift cord bearing in the'tilter 29, and corresponding portions of this bearing have been. given the same reference numerals.

In'the. assembly shown in Fig. l, the lift cords 32, 32 are led along the headbar from the lift cord. bearings and between the flanges 85, 85', the looped, depending end of the lift cord hanging down from thecord lock. A portion of the base 84 between the flanges. 8.5, 8.5 is: cut away to form a hole 86 for downward passage ofthe lift cords, abortion of the. cutaway metal being curled upwardly? a: direction towards: the lift bearing to: form asmooth, generally cylindrical; cord bearing surface: 88:1extending-r transversely between the innersi'des of' the flanges 85, 8&5 and forming an. integral bearing for passage of: the

lift. cords, thus: obviating the customary cord pulley.

The intermediate portion ofthe coroner; body 8t isprovided withan upwardly directed form tion 81 which may be generally Lshaped-irr horizontali cross section. The formation. 81, which may be." formed as indicated in. thendrawings; has an upwardly opening til trod bearing 85 for re? ceiving the: OC-MFIOCK end of the'tilt. rod 21. Ag portion of the formation. al lies across the proj'ec tion: of the bearing 89, being spaced outwardly slightly therefrom so as: to form: a tilt rod stop swand a bendable finger lon one side of the bearing 89 may be bent into positionacross tl ie-top of the bearing Bil soas to-retain the-' tilt rod 2 within the bearing. The-finger 9 h is-gen eraH-y similar to that shown in Lorentzen- U".

Patent 2,262,949;

The portion of the formation 8l surrounding the tilt rod bearing 39 forms a flat, transverse surface from an upwardly and inwardl y" directedfinger 92 may be stamped; the fingerand the formation 81 together forming an up wardly opening slot or guide for receiving an end flangev 1513f the adjacent tape rocker W in order to=restrict endwise-movementof the taperoclier The finger 9% preferably extends a substantial distance horizontally awayfrom the vertical face of the formation 8!- to assure correct assembly of the tape rocker, as described in connection w-itl ithe guide portion 79- ef the tilter fitting- 29. However, in thepresent instance, the face of" the formation 81 prevents the tape rocker end flange 'I-E from falling ontheother sid eof the" formation and, therefore, extension on-one-"side only of" the slot is required.

The base 84 of the cord-lock fitting au'ma te' provided with a slot -94 adjacent the circular raised bead- 59 to receive 'abendable tab stampedfi'om the'bottom Wall of thehead bar, which is" clenched against the base to hold the fi-ttingin position. In addition, a second bendable tab stamped from the bottom wall of thehead bar may be clenched against the top surface of the basaM between the flanges 8-5, 85 of the cord lock housing, the basebeing cut back' slightly" at 95 to receive the tab; Portions of thecord lockfitting. may be provided with slightly raised, stiffening beads, if desired, to increase their stiffness.

The cord lock 38 is provided with a locking dog 96 which is pivotally mounted-on a rivet 91 extending: between. the vertical flanges-'85, 85 0f" the cord lock housing. The lockingdog 96 has acord-engaging body portion 99- and a pair of parallel". cars [00,. we extending from-the two ends-of the body portion. and-through which the rivet 9:1" passes.

tionv of: one of the; flanges 85,. 85-.to provide: a. stop:

for limiting rotation. of the. locking dbg-r away from locking: position.

The; body portion 99 of the lockingdog may be formed generally U shaped, in. transverse sec-- .tion to. provide a. pair ofitoothedi cord-engaging Preferably; the ears- NHL F00 extend past the. rivet! 91 on the same side ofthe rivetlas. the cord-bearing surface- 88 (see Fig. 12):

acvopss portions I04 and I05 for locking the cord against the cord lock bearing 88. Preferably, the cordengaging portion I05 projects slightly further from the rivet 91 than the portion I04, the looking dog accommodating some variation in the size of the lift cord. An inwardly pressed bead I06 may be formed along the lower edge of the front'flange 85 of the cord lock to prevent the adjacent lift cord from chafing against the lower edge of thi flange.

Instead of the lift cord bearing above described in the tilter of Figs. 1-6 and the cord lock of Figs. 1 and -13, an alternative lift cord bearing may be provided for both the tilter and the cord lock, the alternative cord bearing used in connection with the tilter being shown in Figs. 8 and 9 and the alternative lift cord bearing used with the cord lock being shown in detail in Figs. 14-17.

Referring now to Figs. 8 and 9, the inner end portion of the base I01 of the tilter may be provided with a slot I08, the side and outer end (towards the end of the head bar) margins of the slot preferably being folded upwardly and back upon themselves to form smooth edges and an upwardly pressed bead I99 being formed along the margin of the inner end (towards the cord lock) of the slot I08.

In assembling onto a head the modified form of the tilter having the type of cord bearing just described, a tab IIO struck from the bottom wall of the head bar is clenched over the bead I09 to hold the tilter in position Within the head bar, the bead causing the tab to be bent into a smooth, rounded surface providing a smooth bearing for the lift cord. Ordinarily, the head bar channel with which this form of tilter is to be used is painted before punching and assembly of the head bar and, therefore, the cord-bearing surface formed by the tab I I0 has a smoothly painted surface which provides a very smooth bearing for the lift cord.

The modified form of lift cord bearing for the cord lock fitting (shown in Figs. 14-17) is essentially the same as the lift cord bearing of the tilter, described immediately above. A slot III in the inner end portion of the cord lock base I 12 receives the lift cord, the side margins of the slot being bent backwardly on themselves as described in connection with the tilter lift cord bearing. The slot I I I is aligned towards the cord lock housing I13 and a raised bead II4 extending along the end of the slot I I I and corresponding to the bead I09 of the tilter, receives the clenched tab I I5 of the head bar.

I claim: 1

1. For an enclosed Venetian blind head-bar organization, a fitting for supporting a tilt rod extending longitudinally of the head bar and having a tape rocker mounted thereon for re ceiving the upper ends of a ladder tape, said fitting comprising: a stamped sheet-metal body having a generally fiat, horizontal base portion, a portion of the body being formed into a generally flat, tape-rocker-engaging portion lying in a generally vertical plane extending longitudinally of the head bar, said tape-rocker-engaging portion being provided with an upwardly opening slot for receiving a radially extending end flange of the tape rocker to restrain endwise movement of the tape rocker.

2. For an enclosed Venetian blind head-bar organization, a fitting for supporting an end of a tilt rod extending longitudinally of the head bar and having tape rockers mounted thereon for receiving the upper ends of ladder tapes, said fitting comprising: a stamped sheet-metal body I having a generally flat, horizontal base portion, a portion of the body being formed into a generally flat, tape-rocker-engaging portion lying in a generally vertical plane extending longitudiorganization, a fitting for supporting an end of i a tilt rod extending longitudinally of the head bar and having tape rockers mounted thereon for receiving the upper ends of ladder tapes, said fitting comprising: a stamped sheet-metal body having a generally flat, horizontal base portion,

a portion of the body being formed into a generally flat, tape-rocker-engaging portion lying in a generally vertical plane and extending longitudinally of the head bar, said tape-rockerengaging portion being provided with an upwardly opening slot for receiving a radially extendingv end flange of the tape rocker to restrain endwise movement of the tape rocker, the upper edge of said tape-rocker-engaging portion on one side of the slot extending longitudinally of the head bar on a level with the slot for a distance at least several times the width of the slot and the taperocker-engaging portion at the other side of the slot extending vertically upwardly above the level of the slot.

4. For an enclosed Venetian blind head-bar organization, a fitting for supporting an end of a tilt rod extending longitudinally of the head bar and having tape rockers mounted thereonfor receiving the upper ends of ladder tapes, said fitting com-prising: a stamped sheet-metal body having a generally flat, horizontal base portion,

a portion of the body being formed into a generally flat, tape-rocker-engaging portion lying in a generally vertical plane extending longitudinally of the head bar, said tape-rocker-engaging portion being provided with an upwardly opening slot for receiving a radially extending end flange of the tape rocker to restrain endwise movement of the tape rocker, the upper edge of said taperocker-engaging portion on both sides of the slot 7 extending longitudinally of the head bar on a times the width of the slot.

HANS K. LORENTZEN.

level with the slot for a distance at least several References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,057,608 Carroll Oct. 13, 1936 2,064,094 Wiener Dec. 15, 1936 2,223,633 McKerlie Dec. 3, 1940 2,226,623 Lorentzen Dec. 31, 1940 2,230,807 Lorentzen Feb. 4, 1941 2,396,425 Hunter Mar. 12, 1946 2,421,505 Hunter June 3, 1947 2,469,839 Nelson May 10, 1949 2,482,036 Stutz Sept. 13, 1949 2,495,888 Burns Jan. 31, 1950 2,584,607 Nardulli Feb. 5, 1952 2,614,623 Nelson Oct. 21, 1952 2,614,624 Stuber et 8.1. ..Oct. 21. 1952 

